Aratos of Sicyon

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Aratos of Sicyon (* 271 BC in Sicyon , † 213 BC in Aigion ) was a leading statesman in Hellenistic Greece. He became known as the strategist of the Achaean League .

Life

Aratos was a son of the politician Kleinias, an opponent of the Sicyon tyrant Abantidas , the Kleinias 264 BC. Was killed. The young Aratos then went into exile, but returned in 251 BC. And overthrew Nicocles , who had become a tyrant there. Aratos managed to end the stasis that had plagued Sicyon for 50 years up to this point by recalling all exiles without conducting new exiles. This was only possible because King Ptolemy II provided the necessary money. As a result, Aratos stood up for the unification of the Greeks, especially against Macedonia , and pursued the expansion of the Achaean League , which Sicyon had joined under his leadership. In the covenant, Aratos received in 245 BC For the first time by election the office of strategist, which was limited to one year and which he held until 213 BC. Chr. Dressed a total of sixteen times.

243 BC He attacked Acrocorinth, the fortress of the city of Corinth , where the Macedonians had stationed a strong garrison. Corinth then joined the Achaean League. Then Aratos defeated the Aitolian League at Pellene. Around 238 BC BC he won the former opponent for a common policy against Demetrios II of Macedonia. Although Aratos succeeded in uniting most of the Hellenes against Macedonia, his army was defeated in 233 BC. At the battle of Phylakia (probably near Tegea ) of the Macedonian army. When then the Aitolians fell away from the coalition, Aratos tried to stabilize the situation through diplomatic channels; so he succeeded in 229 BC Chr. To win Hermione , Phleius and Argos for the Achaean Covenant.

232 BC He became Olympic champion in chariot racing. (That is, the team he paid for won.)

A new threat to the federal government arose from the Spartan expansion policy under King Cleomenes III. Against this, Aratos allied himself with the old arch enemy Macedonia under Antigonus III. Doson , with whose help 222 BC. In the battle of Sellasia the decisive victory over Sparta was achieved. While this enabled Macedonia to regain a foothold in the south of Greece, the importance of the Achaean League declined, especially since it was used by the Aitolians in 220 BC. Was beaten at Kaphies. Aratos then went to the court of King Philip V of Macedon, who Aratos in 213 BC. Was poisoned.

swell

  • Plutarch ; Konrat Ziegler (ed.): Great Greeks and Romans. 6 volumes, Zurich 1954–1965 (numerous reprints)

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ The Olympic Games of Antiquity by MI Finley & HW Pleket, Rainer Wunderlich Verlag, Tübingen, 1976, page 95, ISBN 3-8052-0263-6
personal data
SURNAME Aratos of Sicyon
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Strategist of the Achaean League
DATE OF BIRTH 271 BC Chr.
PLACE OF BIRTH Sicyon
DATE OF DEATH 213 BC Chr.